Morning journal and courier., 1887-08-17
THE STORY OF ssNANCY FAT"
How Gen. Elliot Tried to Make a Social
 Queen Of Her and Failed.

rAtlanta Special to Chicago Herald.]
 Not long since there was brief notics in the Herald and some other papers announce ing the death of Mrs. Gen. R. B. Elliott, wife of the late negro Congressman who a few years ago took such an active part in South Carolina politics. Possibly no woman of the present century has experienced such 8 sudden change from indulgence to opulence or has risen so quickly in the social scale | Mrs. Elliott was owned by family in Col 1 umbia, S. c. Her name was Nancy, but on account of her plump figure she bore the suggestive appeilation of "Naney Fat. !" She was an amiable, humble creature. Happy and indolent with no ambition or pride of character, she was contented while engaged at the most menial toll and drudgery as, when arrayed iii fantastic and gaudy attire, she danced as belle of the shuckings. Dur ing the period of Republican rule Gen. FL liot, while in Columbia, was one afternoon
 driving behind his splendid pair of bays. He was dressed in his usual style of black
 broadcloth and lavender kid gloves. At the corner of one of the streets he saw picture that proved to be the key to his destiny.
 It was ''Nancy Fat.' She had just drawn bucket of water from the pump,
 and it was balanced on her turbaned head. the crystal drops trickling down her brown
 face and neck, and she laughed good -natur- edly. Her skirts were tucked high, and there generous display of bare feet and ankles. The effect was instantaneous, and the Congressman in broadcloth was
 hopelessly infatuated with the merry, ignor- ant water carrier. The result was a speedy courtship and marriage. The transformation was wonderful as it was sudden. From the washtub and the cooking stove sine became mistress of magnificent home on one of the fashionable streets of Columbia. Gen. Elliot was man os brilliant intellect and unbounded ambition. He was one of the
 leading spirits of the Republican party,
 and was regarded as one of the most in- telligent negroes who was ever known in
 the South. He was from Boston, Mass, he
 was finished scholar and a successful law-
 yer. His alliance with the untutored Nancy
 caused general surprise. Yet she was re- ceived by his friends with courtesy and
 kindness. One day I was passing her house
 in company with her former mistress, when
 we espied sight that was droll and anus
 ing Beside marble fountain surrounded
 by rare exotics sat Mrs. Elliott. She was
 arrayed in a costume of most extreme ele-
 gance. Peeping from beneath her skirts
 of amber satin we plainly saw her bare,
 brown feet. As she saw us she quickly
 tucked them under her skirts, and exclaimed
 good-naturedly: 'Now, old missis, don't
 laugh at your nigger, you know I never did
 like shoes If the General saw me he would
 scold, but every chance I get I just slip
 them off. All this fnery can't make me
 forget the happy days when I was plain
 Nancy Fat and now I am Mrs. Gen. Congressman Elliott" Much amused, we passed on, and left her with her bare feet
 in the damp sand of the fountain. A few
 years later Mrs. Elliott became..a prominent feature in the Republican society of the State and also figured conspicuously in
 Washington. It was during President
 Grants administration at one of the balls
 that she caused such a sensation on account
 of the devoted attentions she received from
 certain prominent white politicians who
 wished to make conspicuous their approval of the social equality law. The brilliant negro Congressman is dead. And only a few days ago the woman whom he endeavored to elevate by all that wealth and power could do died in poverty and obscurity.